Obviously February ended a couple of months ago. And more happened then I have pictures of (as usual).
My ward had an activity for FHE where we went to Jack and Jills in Lehi for bowling, lazer tag and arcade games. We felt pretty special as we got the private bowling suite. It was kind of fun because I got to meet some new people.
One of my kindergartners brought some nail polish to school one day and wanted to paint mine for me. I was pretty impressed with how focused she was to detail, and I think that they didn't come out too bad.
I bought a new car! Just kidding, Lucy was looking at getting a new car and I worked hard at getting her into a Mazda :) She did really like them but ended up with something that was a little cheaper.
Lucy invited me to go to church with her one time. I've always been open to trying other churches so that I can understand someone else's beliefs and how can I expect them to want to hear about mine if I'm not willing to listen to theirs? It was an interesting experience, much of the time was spent singing and then this guy gave a sermon. It was actually a really good sermon but it was so weird to have a gospel discussion without using the Book of Mormon.
That same Sunday I went to Ben and Sonia's ward because Katrina was the youth speaker in Sacrament...how did my niece get old enough to give a talk!
I love love love that it's bonfire time of year. There's nothing quite like sitting in front of the fire!
Apparently February was the bowling month. I went again with Kayla, Derek, and Brittany one weekend. We tried a new bowling alley in Sandy I believe it was.
February I was lucky enough to get to attend my Stake Relief Society Conference (I wrote a little bit about it HERE).
I got a new toy for Christmas from Mom, that helped pull out the core of a cupcake so that I can put in a filling. I experimented with a new cupcake recipe and filled it with my yummy raspberry cream cheese frosting.
Last Saturday I had the special opportunity to attend a special Relief Society Conference that my singles stake put on entitled "Live Up to Your Privilege." To be honest I wasn't so sure if I really wanted to attend, it was "early" Saturday morning and was 3 hours long plus lunch at the end, I'm grateful that I did end up deciding to attend though, I was spiritually uplifted and it was a great morning spent with Kayla as well. Sorry if my thoughts will seem scattered, these are just bits and pieces that I wrote down/remember/stood out to me.
We all gathered in the Chapel first to hear a couple testimonies, special musicals, to watch a slideshow, and to hear from our Stake President (I love our my Stake Presidency, they are so wonderful and I constantly feel their love for us!). After the time in the Chapel we had the opportunity to choose 2 of 5 workshops (so not fair having to choose!).
The first workshop that I attended was called "Communication and Relationship Building." The number one thing that they sister teaching the class seemed to keep repeating was Being Engaged with and where you are (ENGAGED-Participate, Establish a meaningful relationship).
She spent a lot of time discussing the 5 Languages of Love (if you haven't heard of them you can go HERE to read more about it or to take a test to discover what kind of Love Language you need). I've heard about the 5 Languages in several of my classes but have never really thought a ton about them or what I might be. She recommended that we take the test every 6-12 months ourselves because our love languages do change. One suggestion that she made that her sister does for her kids I loved. She said that most people/kids generally act out when they are not feeling loved so her sister will have her kids take the test to discover what kind of love language they need and work to fill that kind of love for them.
She also showed this clip, I loved the idea and loved the different comments they make, especially the old couple.
The second class was called "Trust in the Lord, His Timing, His Way, His Will"
She started by reading this quote from Richard G. Scott, "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." There was more to the quote but this is the part that she had highlighted and repeated several times through the whole workshop and it continues to stand out to me.
She had run out of time but told us to go home and watch this song, Lemonade by Alex Boye (she said it was a good song but she also remarked on his crazy pants :D), somehow I had never heard this song before but I really liked it. After that she was talking about are we more concerned with what is not happening than what is happening which fit it with what the song was about.
After I had listened to the song I also read the notes that Alex Boye had put under the movie and felt that it really did go well with what she was talking about...
This song is inspired by one of my favorite quotes:
"Cease your complaining and fretting.The cause is in yourself, and where the cause is, there is the remedy...Alter your outlook on life, and your outward life will alter."
-James Allen
I've always wanted to write my own Bobby Mcferrin, "Don't worry, be Happy" song. CHECK!! There is a part in the song that says "So many miracles are happening each day, if I can just get out of my own way.
That's a reminder for ME.
A few years ago, even though I had so many amazing things happening in my life, I was so caught up in things that were NOT going right, that I stopped appreciating the things that WERE going right. I would start making a habit of chasing the storms and not the sunlight, and started getting used to feeling sorry for myself. whenever bad stuff would happen to me, i would say things like "Yep, of course that would happen to ME and nobody else!!
I would always be waiting for something amazing to happen to me before I felt good about myself. "If I get that raise, THEN life would be amazing, or if I found the right spouse, or if I get that record deal, or if I win that contest, or got the new car, THEN things would be amazing. I was living in the future and NOT enjoying the PRESENT.
Things started to change for me when I came across a book called "The Magic of believing".
I started to change my way of thinking and realized that we don't have to wait for something amazing to happen. WE ALREADY ARE AMAZING!! I would say that to myself often and then i would start seeing amazing things happen in my life. so glad I found that little truth in my life. It has made ALL the difference.
Im learning now that when bad things happen out of our control, it can either leave us either bitter, or better for going through it. I once heard someone say, "Life can truly be bittersweet. But whatever you bring attention to, expands, so choose wisely."
This is a song about making the most and the best of life, whatever is thrown our way. Thanks for reading this far!!
Best,
Alex Boye'
LEMONADE LYRICS:
I'm just so broke you won't believe
Can't get a dollar out of me
And as far as I can see
I'm losing control like a bad disease
No I just can't get relief
I've been shot down by the life police,
And everyday I try to rise
But I can't succeed
Can anybody find a cure for me?
You can be bitter, bitter, bitter
Or you can be better, better, better
CHORUS
When life gives you lemons
Instead of champagne
Don't worry little children
And don't complain (woh)
Remember you're golden
So find some sugar cane
When life gives you lemons
Make lemonade
Hama kama hama kama heyama kama x2
Now everyday is like a brand new year,
I throw my hands up in the air
Like I just don't care,
I'm moon walking down the streets
Feeling like oh yeah (oh yeah!)
like the bottom of the glass now I see clear
So now I laugh just a little more (Yeeheheee!)
I stand much taller than I did before (Yahahaa!)
I know I'm not where I need to be
But I thank God that I'm not
where I used to be,
I used to be bitter, bitter bitter
And now I feel better, better, better
CHORUS
When life gives you lemons
Instead of champagne
Don't worry little children
And don't complain (woh)
Remember you're golden
So find some sugar cane
When life gives you lemons
Make lemonade
BRIDGE
Hama kama hama
I was saved for a reason
That I can't explain
Got something new to believe in
I'm awakened again (who woh)
So many miracles are
Happening each day
If I can just get out of (Elelele)
My own way
CHORUS
Le-le-le-le-Lemonade
Lemony-lemony-le-lemonade
Lemo-lemo, Woo!
A big purpose of this class was using our patriarchal blessings. "Your Patriarchal Blessing is a window into who you are and who you can become."
She told of having talked to a friend of hers who has been a patriarch for many years and she asked him what he tells people that are receiving their blessings. He told of a suggestion that he always gives and I thought that it was a very unique and good idea. He tells them at the beginning to make several copies of their blessings,
On the first copy mark the blessings and talents that are mentioned.
On the second copy mark what opportunities that you will have in your life.
On the third copy mark what blessings you will receive.
On the fourth copy mark what counsel and teachings your blessing gives you. (you can also mark the warnings that are given or do that as a separate copy).
On the fifth copy mark what insights are given concerning your life mission.
He said then when you are having a bad day go look at the blessings and talents copy. Struggling with a calling, look at the counsel, etc. They always say that every time you read your blessing it seems like you discover or notice something different, I think that looking at the blessing with different parts highlighted will also help.
Sunday in Relief Society it was really nice, they had asked one person that had attended to spend 5 or so sharing some of their thoughts/notes, so even though we weren't able to attend all of the classes we were able to hear some about them. Here are my bullet point notes from them:
Don't worry yourself over which you have no control.
Practice daily receiving personal revelation so we know how the Lord speaks with you. You need to have a desire to know and receive revelation.
True Beauty
We shine when we have the spirit with us.
Deep beauty is Happiness, Bathing in the Spirit.
Circumstances can only determine so much-it's our attitude, choices, reaction, etc.
Emotions take time, they take work and A LOT of talking.
Be a good listener.
You have to take care of yourself before you can help others.
If you are helping someone, you need to have someone that you can talk to.
Our patriarchal blessing is like a recipe, we have the choice to disregard it completely, follow almost completely, or follow it 100% and live up to the full potential of the recipe.
We have a vision of what we want to become through our actions and living each day that we can accomplish that vision.
I stumbled across this blog called Mormon Woman today, as I was skimming through the different posts I really liked one that was about Relief Society, written by "Mormon Men." It was really well written and I appreciated the words that he had to offer...
~Thoughts by Alex, that were recorded by his wife Janelle
I’m not a Mormon woman, but I am thankful for Relief Society.
Last year in class for Elder’s Quorum [a local congregational priesthood group for LDS men], we had a lesson on the organization of the Relief Society and the instructor asked how has the Relief Society blessed the lives of men as well as women. Many men raised their hands to express gratitude for the women’s organization of the church. One man raised his hand and was so thankful that there was a place that his wife could attend and feel valued for her contribution to society as a mother. Another man recalled when meals were brought into his home by the Relief Society when his wife just returned home from having a baby. My friend also raised his hand and reminded us of the time the members of the Relief Society came in and watched his children, cleaned his home, and provided for all meals for several days as he rushed his wife to the hospital for emergency treatment. When he tried to explain to his co-workers about the service rendered to his family in this critical time of need, they were astounded that such an organization existed to give aid with such efficiency.
I also raised my hand to add to the discussion. “I am thankful for the Relief Society because it gives my wife the opportunity to mingle with the older and wiser women of our congregation. She gets the benefit of years of experience these women have through the lessons taught, the visiting teaching program and the social activities.”
Last year, my daughter signed up to play soccer at a local league. We were disheartened to learn that the team photos were scheduled on a Sunday. The team parents were upset with us when we did not show up for pictures. My wife spoke to one of the sisters of her Relief Society and asked her what they had done when her children were smaller and playing soccer in the same league. Her friend replied, “OK, let me tell you what we did. My husband was often the coach, and so at the very first meeting we would say, ‘If we make it to the playoff games which are held on Sundays, we will need the assistant coach or a volunteer to coach those games. Several of the other LDS soccer players parents approached the league and asked if the team photos could be rescheduled for another day to accommodate for religious observances. At that time, the league did change the photo policy. Maybe you should try it again. Before we made that agreement however, I would just tell the team that if our team photos were scheduled for Sundays, I would take the team photos myself and have them professionally developed at the various sizes the parents chose. All of the parents we encountered were very happy to accommodate this request.”
Because of Relief Society, my family enjoys the benefits of all of the talents of the women of our congregation. My wife has has attended classes on healthy living offered by the Registered Nurses in our congregation, furniture restoration and home décor, musical training, scripture study, family history classes, photography, cooking, computer and résumé writing workshops.
Joseph Smith taught that, “The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized” [quoted in this talk on Relief Society]. I believe that.
The Relief Society motto is “Charity Never Faileth.” In our doctrine, charity is defined as the pure love of Christ. I am thankful for this worldwide womens’ organization and its example of Christlike service, it has blessed both me and my family.
Oh, did you think that this was going to be pictures of kids? How silly of you, no these pictures taken by the up-and-coming photographer Daniel. He's 2, you know, they're starting them earlier and earlier these days :D
Daniel was having a bit of a hard time during the Relief Society activity last week, so I introduced the digital camera to him. He LOVED it! With the help of Yuling he took over 100 pictures in a time period of 30 or so minutes :D Good thing for digital!
Last Friday we had a Relief Society activity, we were tie-dying...with onions as our coloring! Crazy! When they told me that I didn't really know how it was going to work, still not quite sure how but it did and I have some really awesome silk material to make into a skirt with the help of my Mom when I get home.
It was a super fun relaxed night, I didn't even do that bad considering that there wasn't really anyone around that spoke English, Sis. Goa was in charge of babysitting, Stephanie was at the other end of the room we working hard on her project and Yuling didn't come later and had Daniel to take care of.
One of the Sister's helped me tie chopsticks and other knots in my material to make cool stars and circle designs in my material.
Oops! I almost forgot to add my finished product, but for some reason Google Chrome won't let you move the pictures around, so they get to stay at the top :D
The Relief Society presidency (at least for the week--Sis Goa left to return to the states this week and so wont be in the presidency any longer)
This is going to sound really weird but I think that I really have my Dad's side of the family nose in this picture, I haven't ever really noticed before, but it's really obvious here.
I asked one of the Sister's daughters to take some pictures for me, I hardly ever get pictures of myself and I wanted some of me doing my tie dye (to prove that I actually did it this time :D)
Someone's completed project (well the tying part anyway)
Working, working, working, and don't forget talking :D
In this project we needed two or even three hands sometimes, some of us resorted to using our teeth (it worked quite well if I do say myself)
The beginning stages of the dying, we soaked it in the onion dye from Friday night to Sunday afternoon after church.
Part of the group that was there, not bad for a branch on Friday night.
Stephanie working until the very last minute (and she had been working all week on her's), her's came out really cool with butterflies and flowers--beautiful!
After everyone got their material in the dye we had a lesson about dressing modestly, no one was there to translate it for me, so I got distracted by these two (they are chasing each others fingers)
What the pot looked like right before I went home.
